Rockbridge County, VA --Some Court Orders prior to 1778, the creation date of the county. ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************** Transcribed and submitted by Marilyn Headley , 1997 The following information is taken from the book History of Rockbridge County, Virginia by Oren F. Morton, B. Lit., originally published in Staunton, Virginia in 1920. This work is now beyond the limit of copyright restriction. ANNALS OF 1731-1777 Selections from the records of Orange, Augusta, and Botetourt ORANGE ORDER-BOOK, 1735-1745 1111 tithables-Nov. 18,1735 Road surveyors to set finger-boards at every crossroads in large letters. The Rev. Richard Hardwell presented for being drunk.-1741 James Phillips fined ten shillings for non-attendance at his parish church, and for not appearing to answer the charge against him. Poll tax, fourteen pounds of tobacco-1744 Andrew Campbell takes out a pedlers license-1740. Wolf-heads turned in by Charles Campbell, James Hamilton, John James, and Richard McDowell. Constables: 1741, James McDowell; 1742, Hugh Cunningham; 1743, Joseph Lapsley, John Mitchell, William Moore, and James Anderson; 1744, Samuel Gay. Militia officers: John Mathews and Patrick Hays appointed captains in 1742; William Jameson, captain, 1745; Alexander Dunlap, captain of horse, 1743; Henry Gay, lieutenant in 1744, and Andrew Hays in 1745 People of Borden Tract petition for a road from James Youngs onto Bordens Tract by a gap in Blue Ridge called Michael Woods Gap. Francis McCown, Samuel Walker, Captain Charles Campbell, and Captain Patrick Hays among the overseers. Colonel James Patton to lay off the precincts. South River to be crossed at the plantation of Samuel Davis. Tavern rates, 1742: Hot diet, one shilling; cold diet or loging, sixpence each; corn or oats, per gallon, sixpence; stabling and fodder for one night, or pasturage for twenty-four hours, sixpence; Barbadoes rum, per gallon eight shillings; New England rum per gallon, two shillings and sixpence; Virginia Brandy, per gallon, six shillings; claret, per gallon, four shillings, Virginia cider, per quart, four and half pence. AUGUSTA ORDER-BOOK 1745 Robert Young appointed constable in Richard Woodss militia company, and James Greenlee to succeed William Moore in Benjamin Bordens company. Greenlee afterward excused on account of illiteracy. 1746 Joseph Lapsley and John peter Salling sworn in as captains, Robert Renick as first lieutenant. Statements of losses by Indians certified to in case of Richard Woods, John Mathews, Henry Kirkham, Francis McCown, Joseph Lapsley, Isaac Anderson, John and James Walker.-Feb 19th James Huston and three other men presented for being vagrants, and hunting and burning the woods; on information given by John Peter Salling, James Young, and John McCown. Huston fined three pounds for illegally killing three deer. Constables: William Taylor from Benjamin Allens to the lower end of the county; William Gay on the Calfpasture; Michael ODougherty in Woods company; John McCown, Michael Finney, and Thomas Williams in the Forks of James. Samuel Dunlap, John Ramsay, and John Campbell succeed, respectively, Nathaniel McClure, William Gay, and Robert Gwin, Alexander McCroskey is also a constable. 1747 Henry Gay, James Allison, John Hodge, and John Edmondson petition for leave to build gristmills. The road formerly cleared from James Youngs mill to Woods Gap to be altered. John Allison given license for a ferry between his landing and Halbert McClures. Robert Patterson and James Allen to view a road from John Pickens mill to lower meeting house. Petition by James McCown for road from crossroads below Patrick Hays. Hays is on north side of South River. 1748 Richard Burton to take the list of tithables in the Forks. Robert Keys and Sarah, his wife, win in a slander suit against Ephraim McDowell. John Lyle is a witness. George Campbell presented for striking and beating Joseph Walker in the courtyard. Henry C-- presented for assaulting and beating Joseph M-- in a meeting house yard at a time of burial service. Constables: David Dryden and William Lockridge succeed Samuel Dunlap; William Woods succeeds John McCown; Alexander Walker succeeds Michael Dougherty. 1749 Archibald Alexander, Benjamin Borden, William Jameson, Samuel Gay, John Lyle, John Mathews, and Richard Woods are on the list of Justices. Benjamin Borden to take the list of tithables from North River to the end of the county; David Stuart, from the courthouse to North River. 1750 A road has been cleared over the Blue Ridge at Woodss old gap--May 25 Road ordered from John Hays mill to Providence meeting house. Posts of direction to be set up. Richard Burton, Robert Renick, John Poage, Peter Wallace are to survey a road from Looneys Ferry to North River; Benjamin Borden, John Thompson, Isaac Taylor, and William McClung are to survey to the intersection with the county road. Road ordered from William Gays to Robert McCutchens and thence to Robert Campbells. McCutchen to build the road with the help of William Elliott, Thomas Fulton, John Fulton, John Meek, Thomas Meek, John Williams, and John Gay. John Maxwell, James McDowell, and Edward Hogan were in a canoe on the James, Sunday, May 13 (Old style). The boat upset and Hogan was drowned. Coroners jury at James Greenlees, five days later: Michael Dougherty, Josiah F. Hendon, John Hitchins, Joshua Mathews, James Montgomery, John Poage, John Ramsey, John Vance, Matthew Vance, Samuel Walker, Joseph Walker, and ---Walker. 1751 William Lusk a justice. Archibald Alexander, Michael Finney, John Hargrove, John Maxwell, and John Peter Salling are surveyors for a road from David Moores Mill to Robert Poages mill. Order for road from Hays fulling mill to Timber Ridge meeting house. Constables: James Phillips vice Samuel McCutchen; William Elliott vice James Gay; Richard Cousart vice James Greenlee; John Gilmore vice John Allison. 1752 James Young, miller, presented for taking toll twice. Road ordered from William Cleghorns to Purgatory. Benjamin Borden to lay off a road from his house to Providence meeting house. John Patton, surveyor. Petitioners for a road from Kennedys mill to John Houstons and from Houstons to the great road from Timber Grove to Woods Gap: Robert Alexander, Andrew Duncan, Robert Dunlap, Walter Eakin, James Eakin, John Edmondson, John Handly, Patrick Hays, James Hill, John Houston, Joseph Kennedy, William Lockridge, William McConnell, John Montgomery, Andrew Steele, Robert Stuart, John Stuart, William Wardlaw, and John Wilson. Petition of settlers on the lower Cowpasture petition for a road over the mountains to the Borden Tract--Oct. 19. 1753 225 wolf-heads turned in Nov. 22. Cornelius Bryan given permission to cut a road at his own expense from the bent in Buffalo to Michael Doughertys Members of grand jury, Nov. 20: Robert Bratton, James Lockridge, John Anderson, William Caruthers, Archibald Alexander, John Paxton, and Samuel McMClure. James Trimble, foreman. John Paxton road overseer from Edmondsons mill to Fork Meeting House. Order for a road from Campbells schoolhouse to the Renick road. Samuel Walker, overseer. Workers: John Allison, Samuel Allison, Stephen Arnold, Richard Burton, William Burt, William Byers, James Frazier, Henry Fuller, John Hutchings, Sr., John Hutchins, Jr., John Maxwell, John McColley, Richard Mathews, Sampson Mathews, William Noble, John Peteet, Joseph Ryan, Thomas Shaw, John Smith, Joseph Smith, John Sprowl, John Peter Salling, George Salling, Mathew Vance, Samuel Walker. 1754 Several runaway servants taken up. Joseph Tees fined twenty shillings for saying, he got nothing in this court but shuffling. Lancelot Graham constable on Great Calfpasture, William Ramsay on Little Calfpasture. Thomas Paxton constable to succeed John Lowry. 1755 James Lockridge appointed a lieutenant. Mary McDonald bound over to keep the peace for putting John Cunningham in fear of his life. Cunningham has tavern license. Order for a road from Isaac Taylors to Tarrs shop. Abraham Brown constable below Brushy Hills in Forks of James. 1756 Mary, wife of William Whiteside, refused separate maintenance. The court blames certain of her relatives for the breach. Many claims for ranging and for the impressment of horses are ordered certified. Valentine Utter and Mary, his wife, servants of John Paxton, are set free on consideration of their paying him twelve pounds. Constables: David Doak vice Samuel Braford; Samuel Steele vice James Walker; Moses Whiteseide in James Kennedys company; Samuel Wilson vice Alexander McNutt. 1757 Constables: John Shields vice John Henderson; William Logan vice Anderson Brown; Thomas Kirkpatrick vice Thomas Berry. 1758 James Alexander becomes a captain. John McCroskey road overseer from Alexander Millers to the line of Beverly Manor; Charles Hays, from Andrew Hays mill to Timber Ridge meeting house. Overseers, Alexander Miller, Joseph Culton, and Archibald Alexander. 1759 Richard Woods, sheriff. Samuel McDowell, captain, James McDowell, lieutenant, John Lyle, ensign. 1760 Joseph Culton granted mill license. John Dickenson and James Lockridge to survey a road from John Wilsons to Panther Gap. 1761 John Paxton granted tavern license. John Buchanan to take the list of tithables on the south side of the James, Richard Woods in the Forks, Archibald Alexander from North River to Beverly Manor, and James Lockridge in the Pastures and on Jacksons River. John Matthews is road surveyor from North River to the junction with the road near Sharps. Archibald Alexander, Felix Gilbert, Andrew Hays, John Tate, John Buchanan, to survey a road from Stuarts to the top of the mountain near Rockfish Gap. Tithables to turn out from Woods Gap to Jennings Gap and from between North Mountain and South Mountain to North River.-Aug. 1. John Monroe of Borden tract presented for staying away from public worship. 1763 John Houston overseer of road from Timber Ridge to Providence. James McDowell, captain, William McKee, lieutenant. For having two children taught dancing Israel Christian is sued for five pounds. Thirty-three justices, inclusive of Richard Woods, John Bowyer, James Buchanan, Archibald Alexander, John Maxwell, and Samuel McDowell. 1764 John Paxton certifies to 7720 pounds of hemp. John Anderson made oath to an account of five pounds expense in taking up his servant, Edward Lochan, who was absent twenty-nine days. Ordered that Lochan serve Anderson fifteen months extra time. Daniel Lyle, William Ramsay, and James Simpson to view a way from North River to James Stinsons (Stevenson) on Buffalo. Samuel and David Lyle to view from William Daviss to Timber Ridge. John Mathews with wife and six children were burned in and with their house according to a statement by Sampson Mathews. Christian Godfrey Milliron is bound on suspicion of being guilty of the deed. George Lewis is held for trial because of driving a wagon on Sunday. 1765 For provisions and impressed horses for the use of the militia, claims are turned in by Thomas Alexander, Robert Bratton, John Dunlap, William Elliott, John Finlay, Hugh Fulton, James Mateer, Samuel McCutchen, William McKemy, William McNabb, Daniel OFreel, Thomas Poage, John and Mary Trimble, and Joseph Walkup. Judith Ryley convicted of killing her bastard child. John Greenlee road surveyor from John Mathews, Jrs., to Sinclairs Gap. 1766 James Cloyd overseer of road from lower end of John Bowyers plantation on James, by Cedar bridge, to Mathews road. Workers: John Berry, Matthew Hair, John Hall, William Hall, John Hones, John Logan, James McClure, James Skidmore, George Skillern, Christopher Vineyard, Conrad Wall, George Wilson. 1767 Old and new roads from Isaac Taylors to Timber Ridge meeting house. Andrew Hays, Captain, James Cloyd, captain, James Lapsley, ensign. Samuel Todd asks for a mill license on Whistle Creek. View for a road ordered from Hannas mill on Colliers Creek to George Gibsons at House Mountain. Road open from Cowpasture to Gilmores Gap. 1768 Thomas Paxton is making grape brandy. Robert Steele has a mill. 1769 James Cowden has a stone house near Samuel McDowells. John Summers constable in place of Alexander Dale. Jacob, a slave, ordered to have thirty-nine. 1770 Charles Hays certifies to 2293 pounds of hemp. George Mathews, sheriff. John Hays, James McDowell, Samuel McDowell, and Archibald Houston are vestrymen. John Caldwell has leave to build an oil mill on South River. 1771 Brice Hanna, contractor to do work at New Providence, failed and ran off. Charles Campbell, Alexander Moore, William Walker, and James Walker, commissioners. 1773 Order for a road from Thomas Lackeys to Timber Ridge meeting house. Alexander Stuart, neighbor to William McClung, granted mill license on Mill Creek. Samuel McDowell qualifies as justice. For illegal selling of liquor, Thomas Mathews asks for corporal punishment in place of a fine. Twenty-one lashes to be given at once and costs imposed. Road ordered from head of Kerrs Creek to North River. In 1774 the bridle-path is reported to be the most convenient way. Hemp certificates given: to James McKee for 2290 pounds; John McKee, 2415; Isaac Anderson, 2863; John McCown, 2566; Andrew Hays, 3300; James Kerr, 2372; James Lindsay, 1070. Dr. George Parker, servant of Samuel McChesney, agrees, with the approval of the court, to pay McChesney 100 pounds for his freedom, on condition of being given a horse and saddle worth ten pounds, and drugs and medicines worth thirty pounds, and is to pay ten pounds a year for his board until the sum of 100 should be paid up. Parker is to keep the horse at his own expense. 1777 John Gilmore, John Lyle, and David Gray are captains. Nat, an Indian boy in the custody of Mary Greenlees son in the Carolinas can be heard from. Meanwhile, Nat is hired out until it can be determined whether he is slave or free. The court considers that Mrs. Greenlee has treated him in an inhumane manner. Zachariah Johnston and Andrew Moore, captains. Liberty to inoculate for the smallpox is granted to the people of Staunton and for three miles around. BOTETOURT ORDER-BOOK 1770-1777 Richard Woods is first high sheriff, and James McDowell and James McGavock and John Bowyer are his undersheriffs. John Maxwell is sheriff in 1773. James Bailey and Joseph Davis are constables on Buffalo, and William Hall on Cedar.-1770. Salary of kings attorney is 4000 pounds of tobacco, the equivalent of sixteen pounds thirteen shillings four pence, or $55.55 in Federal money. Surveyors of roads, 1770: Audley Paul and Hugh Barclay, from Renicks to James Gilmores; James Simpson, from Gilmores to Buffalo; James Templeton, from ford of Buffalo to North River. William McKee to take the tithables from the county line to the Buffalo and from mountain to mountain; Benjamin Estill, from the Buffalo to the James and from mountain to mountain. John Bowyer, John Maxwell, James Trimble, William McKee, James McGavock, and Robert Poage are among the first justices. Hugh Barclay has license to keep an ordinary--1770. Wolf-heads, 173 --1770. Charles Given certifies that his left ear was bitten off by Francis McDonald--1771. Elizabeth Collier agrees to serve her master, James Green, one year extra time, provided he employs her as house-servant--1773. Head-tax, sixty-seven pounds of tobacco ($2.00); Tithables, 1494, of whom 229 are delinquent--1773. Allowance of $40.00 for furnishing courthouse with candles and firewood--1773. Tavern rates: Warm diet with good meat, one shilling cold diet, seven and one-half pence; lodging in good bed with clean sheets, six pence; lodging with two or more in bed, four pence each; grain, per gallon, six pence -- 1775. Samuel Wallace, road surveyor from Paxtons ford on North River to ford in Buffalo. Benjamin Estill and John Bowyer among the persons appointed to administer the oath of allegiance to the free white inhabitants, as per Act of Assembly; Estill for the companies of John paxton and James Hall, Bowyer for the companies of William Paxton and Samuel Wallace--August 13, 1777. Contract let for building a prison sixteen by twenty feet, logs squared to the dimensions of fourteen by fourteen inches to form the walls and the upper and lower floors.